Mining history of the Atacama Region, Chile

Chimneys from Labrar: p.1 | p.2

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The geographical location of the historic copper smelting works is quite astonishing: not directly on the coast, but also not in the immediate vicinity of the mines. It should be remembered that in 1830 the ship was the only means of transport that could transport large quantities. The transport route overland was arduous, expensive and unsafe, and the more powerful railway did not arrive at Atacama until 1851. Important in this period was the short distance between the mine and the melt, because more than 80% of the exploited material was useless.
But the transport of imported fuel, in this case coal, was also very expensive, and so the location between the mine and the port was probably the most favourable.

Information:
Location: Labrar, Atacama region
Comuna Freirina, Provincia Huasco
Height 635m
Location (UTM): E281.000 / N68.20.163
beeline to Freirina: 29,5 km
Street-kilometre to Freirina: 45,6 km